Pat Snuffer is abandoning plans to open a new hamburger restaurant at the original location of his previous namesake chain after settling a lawsuit with the chain’s current owners. A Snuffer’s will once again be located at the Greenville Avenue site.

Snuffer had planned to open a Pat’s Burger & Cheddar Fries at the place next to the Granada Theater where Snuffer’s debuted in 1978. But after Snuffer’s declared bankruptcy, Firebird Restaurant Group bought the company’s name and debt. In November, a bankruptcy court turned over the keys to Firebird to six area Snuffer’s locations. The Greenville Avenue location was not included.

Last spring Snuffer demolished the quirky building that housed the original restaurant and planned to open a new restaurant. But Firebird filed suit to stop him earlier this month, claiming that Snuffer’s “efforts to launch a ‘Burgers and Cheddar Fries’ restaurant on the sacred ground of the original Snuffer’s location on Greenville Avenue is not merely a misappropriation of the Snuffer’s concept, which in itself would be unlawful,” but a plan to “open a Snuffer’s restaurant at Snuffer’s original location under a different name.”

A judge granted Firebird’s request for a temporary restraining order that prohibited Snuffer from opening his doors until a hearing, which had been scheduled for Monday. But Pat Snuffer’s attorney, Larry Friedman, who was hired a week ago, said that late-night “marathon settlement meetings” with Firebird resulted in the agreement reached Sunday.

“These guys are friends, not foes,” said Friedman of Snuffer and Firebird chief executive Mike Karns. “They had a professional disagreement. They both have their own niche. Pat has a smaller innkeeper’s temperament, while Mike Karns is likely to be the next Norman Brinker. Their goals are different. That’s good for the industry and good for the consumer. They can go their separate ways, and the consumer will benefit.”

Karns said the Lower Greenville Snuffer’s will reopen in February, after construction is complete and the Pat’s signs are replaced.

“It was originally developed as a Snuffer’s from the ground up, and I felt it was important to protect the Snuffer’s brand and the original site,” Karns said. “I am thankful we have found a quick solution and can open a Snuffer’s there faster, rather than a longer, drawn-out process. And we wish Pat the best of luck in his future endeavors.”

Settlement terms are confidential, said Friedman, adding that “both sides are extremely happy with the results. Pat already has plans to launch his new concept. It’ll be huge.”

It’s not clear what that new concept will be. But it won’t involve burgers and cheese fries. “I hope not,” Karns said. “Otherwise I’ll be talking to you again.

“We’re just thankful we get to open a Snuffer’s there and get to do it quickly. It’s good for the brands and for the customer. Snuffer’s belongs there.”